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119-hr-10705119th CongressWALLET

Stop SIM Box Scams Act

Sponsored By: Representative Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

Introduced

Summary

A federal ban on SIM boxes that hide call and data origins and enable toll fraud. This bill would make it unlawful to make, import, sell, advertise, possess, use, or modify devices or services that pool, rotate, or multiplex multiple SIMs to obscure caller identity, defeat authentication, or bypass mobile-operator controls.

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  • Families and consumers would see targeted action against equipment designed to obscure call or data origin, which the bill aims to reduce as a source of spoofing and toll fraud.
  • Manufacturers, importers, and retailers would face a broad prohibition on producing, selling, or modifying SIM boxes and could have offending devices seized or forfeited.
  • Mobile service providers would gain a private right of action to seek injunctions, damages, and attorney's fees for harms from violations and would receive a safe harbor for good-faith network monitoring and cooperation with enforcement.
  • Regulators and law enforcement would get new tools. The Federal Communications Commission would write rules within 180 days, coordinate with DHS, Customs and Border Protection, the Justice Department, the FTC, and state attorneys general, and could issue temporary cease-and-desist orders lasting up to 180 days.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Enforcement, penalties, and provider protections

If enacted, the FCC could seize items used in prohibited SIM-box activity and treat each SIM box, each modified item, and each day of a continuing violation as a separate violation. The Commission could issue temporary cease‑and‑desist orders to stop activity for up to 180 days, with possible extensions after notice and a hearing. Mobile‑service providers would be able to sue in federal court for injunctive relief or damages if harmed, and courts could award reasonable attorney’s fees to prevailing plaintiffs. The bill would also give providers a safe harbor from civil liability for good‑faith actions reasonably aimed at detecting or stopping SIM‑box activity, while preserving limits (no duty to monitor and no protection for willful misconduct or bad faith). The bill would also let providers share customer information with federal agencies when helping with SIM‑box enforcement, consistent with the new rules.

Federal coordination and state limits

If enacted, the FCC would coordinate with DHS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Attorney General, the FTC, and state attorneys general to prevent SIM‑box importation and distribution and to share information and training. The FCC would report to Congress within one year after enactment and annually after that about enforcement and coordination activities. The bill would also bar state or local laws that conflict with the Act, while preserving any state or local rules that are stricter than the federal limits on SIM boxes.

Ban and FCC rules for SIM boxes

If enacted, the bill would ban making, selling, importing, leasing, advertising, possessing, using, or distributing ‘‘SIM boxes’’ in interstate or foreign commerce. A ‘‘SIM box’’ would cover physical or cloud systems that automate use of two or more SIMs or credentials and are designed or expected to hide call or data origin or evade provider controls. The ban would take effect for activity on or after 180 days after enactment. The FCC would have 180 days after enactment to issue rules, publish non‑exhaustive lists of prohibited and permitted devices and uses, and create procedures to claim approved exclusions (for example, FCC‑authorized equipment, government uses, and certain lab or internal testing).

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Shreve, Jefferson [R-IN-6]

IN • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 10/9/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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